QotD: Do You Make Music?

A common affinity for music brought us all here in one way or another. Yeah, the industry’s going through tough times and inspired music on a mainstream level is, at best, constantly debated. Yet we fight through it and keep our ears in tune to songs we love: old and new.

There are times when our creative sides want to break out and provide our own input. Such is especially true with song making at home or in a studio: leading to our question of the day. Do you make music professionally and/or as a hobby? If so, what are your weapons of choice between hardware and software? Or perhaps you perform live by yourself or with a crew? Sound off* in the comments as TSS transforms into Gearslutz-lite starting…now!

I’m really thinking about learning Fruity Loops, I got a lot of beat ideas but I already know it’s gonna be frustrating as I won’t be able to make it sound like I hear it in my head. I’m kind of ADHD about my projects lol but I’m ready to take on hundreds of tutorials and miserable attempts

Also I don’t think you need a MPC or (..) to start or even make something serious. Young Chop, if I remember correctly, made I Don’t Like with a simple keyboard and most of his beats, same goes with Lex Luger using Fruity Loops. The real barrier is imagination, not the tools.

i feel you dude. i have so many beat ideas and dope songs to sample that i know of but have no clue how to make a beat. lmao. but i think youre right about the barrier, being imagining and not the actual tools.

No, my uncle was DJ in Jamaica and my brother is an aspiring producer and he raps. I fell in love with computers so the music bug didn’t catch at an early age but lately I wanted dip my toe into the water and make something along the lines of lo-fi which I have been listening a lot in the past year.

I’m just picturing TRA (with a question mark instead of a face) lurking this post, cherry-picking his faves and creating an overwhelming flood of traffic once people find out you can signed from posting here. lol

For the love…yeah, I make music. I might not be great at it, but I love doing it. Tried selling mixtapes, even sold a few on a myspace hustle, but I got tired of doing it. I started giving tapes, blends and mix cds out and just sayin “you might like this”.

I love when people share new music with me, like TSS & 2DB, so I like sharing new music with others, even though 1-2 might be my own concoction

60th Anniversary American-made Fender Stratocaster with ’62 reissue bridge. Phase 90, chorus, uni, fuzz, and a wah, and I’m all set. Groovin’ and movin’ with some underwater outerspace electric church shit. Or just keep it clean and bust out that Meters shit. Doing some production, too. Little bit of everything. Got some demos, but they’re not up to my standards. One day, guys. One day…

Let me clarify for you heathen savages: I’m only checking shit that I see posted up in these comments in one of the regular TSSers who I see often and trust their opinion tells me it’s dope. Stay out my DMs otherwise.

music being my first love and only thing i’ve ever considered myself at lease ‘well-versed’ in, i do it for the love but stress myself out about the possibility of making it more than that. no track ever lives up the the potential i give it in my mind to be a banger (if that makes any sense). not to mention the world tells you to pursue something more “logical” or “time worthy”

i’m sure everyone reading this dedicates more time than any to the music. just being on this site and interacting in the c section tells me that. being a true fan takes just as much dedication as the craft but if i only ever amount to as much as a student of the game, i’m ok with that.

nevertheless, i’ve tried fl studio and logic and i’m more of a logic fan for the sounds and user-friendliness. i’ve dabbled with reason and the sounds are excellent too but logic is my first choice. regardless of what source i’m using, real instruments wired thru midi is ideal just for the sake of authenticity.

on another note, anyone ever have any really challenging mental blocks as far as where to start on a new project and any tips on how to overcome “musical writer’s block”?

Create aesthetics or a narrative. But not through the lyrics, necessarily. Soundscapes and all that jazz. Listen to different shit. Like all sorts of different shit. Don’t just take inspiration from music. Film’s a good place to start, shit, even videogames. Sports, too. Then see how music affects and connects all these different mediums. Art is art is art is art. Don’t attack it as a musician; come from a different mindset. Don’t over think it, cuz you’ll never get in the zone that way.

Also, smoking a shit ton of weed and doing psychedelics never hurts, either

I won’t even bother with a link as I’ve put the “music for public exhibition” phase behind me and do it just for the sake of doing it because I can do it.
MPC 1000 + M-Audio Axiom + Reason have provided many a wannabe with over-shadowing backdrops for their over-saturating “raps” courtesy of my former self.
Nowadays, I’ll produce a joint or two every now and then just for the sake of throwing it in the iPad and bumpin to it while I get from point A to point B.

I use FL Studio for mine & my producers beats.. Most of my other producers use Logic or Reason.. Recording i use ProTools LE 8.. No special plugins but I make it work.. Creativity makes up where equipment lacks. Some of the dopest beats of all time were made from what seemed like nothing to other producers/rappers..

I rap, just started doing shows actually ([soundcloud.com]) Feel free to peep it. Looking to start producing once I get my money right and can buy a Maschine.
God damn, wait til I get my money right…..

I love music too too much to ever consider attempting to create it. I don’t wanna lose the love by counting claps, bars, relationships, relying on it as a livelihood and shit.
No thanks. I always felt that way and I’ve seen it so much, especially in the last ten-twelve years. I’m hood, this is damn near all I continuously have. I cherish this shit

I used to make joke songs for my friends. I used Acid Studio. I had this track where I took the drums from Cameo’s Word Up and the bassline from Black Sheep’s The Choice is Yours. It was genius in my opinion but involved no real production skill at all. Recently I’ve used Logic Express 9. I can’t quite swipe drums and bass lines like Acid but it’s more original.

i make music strictly as a hobby had a few bad experiences with the industry but i can read music and play a few things used to be able to rock the mpc now a days someone will be like “what if someone would flip that into a beat and ill go do that shit and post it just to make aggins laugh…i did a mixtape off nintendo beats a few years ago…

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood My Fellows. Fuck The Bull Shit And Spit Sum…! The Only Thing That Makes Me Happier Than Music Is Some Grade A Punani. Maybe That’s Why My Rap Career Has Never Taken Off?! *Shrugs*